Railroad-tie



(No Model.)

B. B. GILPIN.

RAILROAD TIE.

No. 592,907. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

in?? 9257M a? WITNESSES A TTOHNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

ELIJAH B. GILPIN, OF DAVIS, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,907, dated November2, 1897.

Application filed December 5, 1896. Serial No. 614,638. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ELIJAH B. GILPIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Davis, in the county of Tucker and State of West Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to' make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in railway ties or sleepers andmeans for securing rails thereto.

The invention relates to certain novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter moreparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one'of my improved ties withsections of rails applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view ofone of my improved ties, the rail and rail-fastenings being removed.Fig. 3 represents a vertical section taken through one of my ties, withthe rails attached, on the line of the rail-clamps. Fig. 4 represents atransverse vertical section through one of my improvedsleepers, and Fig.5 represents a transverse vertical section through my improved sleeper.

A in the drawings represents the sleeper; B B, the rails; O, therail-clamps, and D the locking-springs. The said sleeper A comprises ahorizontal plate (1, preferably constructed of metal, a vertical Web a,formed along the under side of said plate, centrallyarrangedbracing-brackets aiconnecting said web and horizontal plate, andhorizontal beads or flanges a formed along each edge of the under sideof said plate a. The horizontal plate forms a support for the rails,while the vertical web a braces said plate and prevents tipping of thesame. The brackets a prevent longitudinal movement contacting with theballast. The heads a strengthen the edges of the plate a and also assistin preventing the rocking of said plate. Elongated slots a are formed insaid plate a to receive the rail-clamps 0. Each of these clampscomprises a shank 0, having a head 0, formed with an incline 0 upon oneside,'adapted to engage the flange of the rail. Said shank c is alsoprovided at its lower end with an offset 0 After the rail has beenapplied in position the shank and ofiset o are passed of the plate C6 bythrough one of the elongated slots at. The shank o is then given aquarter-turn, so as to bring the inclined surfaceof the head 0 upon.

effectually holds the clamp in position and prevents'its being moved todisengage it from the rail. When it is desired, though, for any reasonto remove said clamp, this is accomplished by simply removing the springat upward with a suitably-shaped tool and then givingsaid clamp aquarter-turn to bring the ofiset c in alinement with the slot a whensaid clamp can be withdrawn upward.

By the employment of my invention the rails are held firmly in positionagainst any accidental displacement and at the same time are so securedthat they may be instantly removed, if desired, by simply removing theclamp C, as before described. The lower ends of the bow-springs D arepreferably turned out slightly, as at d, so as to effectually preventany accidental displacement of said clamp.

By means of the peculiar mounting of the clamps for the rails in theelongated slots the rails are rendered free to expand and contractbecause of the varying temperature without in any wise afiecting theties upon which the rails are resting.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a railway-sleeper having a horizontal plateprovided with elongated slots, and a vertical web formed on the underside ofsaid plate, of rail-clamps each provided with a head at each endand adapted to be passed through the elongated slots and given a squareturn to' lock them in contact with said plate and the flange of therail, and loopsprings having concave portions and adapted to be appliedin the elongated slots to prevent the rail-clamps from turning, theconcave portions of said springs engaging the walls of the slot to holdsaid springs in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ELIJAH- B. GILPIN.

Witnesses:

J. M. SMITH, B. F. EoKEss.

